Fluid pressure regulator with tight shutoff action



Aug. 4, 1953 2,647,345

FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH TIGHT SHUTOFF ACTION H. W. ENSIGN Filed June 25, 1951 nZNToR Hipaa W N31 sulla;

* BY BMJ d WMV r roe/VE ys.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 FLUID PRESSURE REGULATOR WITH TIGHT SHUTOFF ACTION` Harold W. Ensign, Fullerton, Calif., assignor to Ensign Carburetor Company, Huntington Park, Calif., a corporation of California Applicationjune 25, 1951, serial No. 233,383

acclaim. (c1. 5o'-10) This invention has to do with fluid pressure shut on the leakage that builds up the pressure. I

The present primary utility of Vthe invention is,

however, in regulators which are setto deliver into an open system (such as an engine carbureter) at a slightly sub-atmospheric pressure. In such regulatorsthe valve closing force, without the addition of some type of special closing means, is determined by the size of the actuating ldiaphragm and the pressure diilerential; and itis desirable to keep both of those quantities small.

The present invention provides a simple and re- 2 liable means of. closing a regulator valve considerably tighter than it would be closed by the pressure differential acting on theY diaphragm; and consequently makes it feasible to operate the `regulator on a smaller pressure differential,

and/ or with a smaller diaphragm, and/or to close its valve more tightly. l

The invention will be explained primarily in its application to a regulator mechanism of single stage type delivering at sub-atrhosphericl pressure, but is not intended -to be thereby limited in any of those regards. With that understanding the invention Will be understood from the following description of the preferred and illustrative embodiments which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: y

Fig. l is a somewhat schematic sectional view showing one embodiment; and v Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views showing modications, Fig. 2 being fragmentary.

Referring erst to Fig. 1, a bodym and a diaphragm II enclose a diaphragm chamber I2 which has an inlet` at I3 for the initial relatively high pressure rand an outlet at IIf'or the uidV at the lower regulated pressure. `An inlet valve I5 controls the inlet and is here illustratedas closing against the initial pressure. Valve I5 is commonly and is here shown mounted onone end of a valve lever I6 pivoted medially at Il. Pivot 1.1 .is .conveniently carrier; one parla'lrhh although functionally a part of the body, is conveniently a separate piece for accommodation of other parts and for ease of assembly. Lever IB extends beyond the other side of its pivot and a A spring I9 is shown as acting on the lever in a direction to move the valve closed. If it is assumed that the initial pressure at I3 is constant or fairly so (for instance, that there is primary pressure regulation of that pressure by, for example, the regulator here shown being the second stage of a two-stage regulator) and if spring I9 is chosenor set to overcome the opening pressure on the valve by a given force; then that excess closing pressure is the measure of the force which diaphragm I I must exert to open the valve. In regulators delivering at sub-atmospheric pressure diaphragm I I is ordinarily exposed on its outer face to atmosphere, and is so shown here. The force which the diaphragm, of any given size, can exert is consequently fixed by the measure of the sub-atmospheric pressure in its delivery chamber I2. Consequently, if diaphragm II of given size merely operated valve lever I 6 as it does in a standard regulator, the closing force on valve I5 when' there is no draft on the regulator outlet would be measured by the depression below atmosphere at which the regulator delivers. To make that delivery depression small the diaphragm can of course be increased in size, or the leverage ratio of the valve lever can be increased with attendant increase in diaphragm travel. But both those expedients are objection able. Instead, the invention provides, in illustrative form the following.

A passage 20, 2|, 22, formed in body piece I8 and body wall Illa, leads from the initial inlet I3 t-o a restricted lorice 23; a screen 24 in 2| protecting the small orice from becoming clogged. The orifice feeds the initial pressure through a passage 25 to 'an auxiliary diaphragm chamber 26, and through a passage 21 to an `auxiliary lvalve seat 28. Auxiliary diaphragm 29 is yconveniently edge-clamped between wall 10a. and

vpiece I8 and has a stem 30 projecting up under -in one plane, the tube is shown as extending freely through a hole in lever IB. An auxiliary .valve 35 seats on valve seat 28 and controls the relief of fluid from passage 21. Valve 35 is carried on one end of a valve lever 35 pivoted medially at 3l and having its other end in contact With diaphragm Il. A spring 38 acts `on lever 36 to close valve 35. Lever 36 is so formed and so located with reference to lever` I6.that initial depression ofthe righthand yend of`"36 fwillrst raise valve 35 off its seat, and then further fdepression of that end of 3S will contact the right hand end of valve lever I5 and depress it to raise main valve I5 on its/seat. That-:arrangement of the two Valve levers constitutes in 'simple form an interconnective means between them involving lost motion for operationlof'lever ,I6 after initial operation of lever 36.

The action of the arrangement of Fig. 1 is as follows. With no draft on outlet' M'and atmospheric pressure in outlet chamber I2, theparts stand in the position shown. The initial pressure at. inlet I3 tends to lift valve I5 01T its seatl Ia. That same pressure stands in 'diaphragm cham- '.'ber 26 and, through stem and lever I6, exerts a closing force on the valve, ,Assuming firstv that spring I9 exerts a force which issmall or. negligible in comparison to the .opening force onthe valve, or that spring I9 is absent (seelEig. 3),

.then diaphragm-29 is made of .such size that,

v effectivepressure area of valve isquitesmall (much smaller than thatof valve I-5) springt can close valve 35 very tightly'and' still --exertfa very'rnuch smaller force than-isnecessary vto lreepl the main Valve- I5 closed: equally tightly.

On a 'slight lowering of pressurein diaphragm .-chamber I2 diaphragm'II movesinwardlmovercoming the slight pressure of vspring 38, --and opening valvev35. With lever 36 moved into contact with lever- It, valve 35 is open bya--denite and predetermined amount. For ,purposes of simplifying the `description here :"it may be assumed that valve 35A then stands substantially wide open. Assuming also that passages 2052i, 22, 25 and 2i are large relative to.' restriction l23,

ywhich v.they preferably are, =ithen .the drop in `pressure indiaphragm chamber :26 with ivalve 35open is controlled by theisizeofforifice 23. The .pressure drop inf chamber 26 may be, zand .preferably is, madeto be greaterthan'that-,due solely rtothe pressure drop throughforicesZB, by-arranging passage 25r and oricesZSzitn.v such relation, as shown,.that the jet from -zthe orifice has an ejector action on passage-.25. Withthat .additional action oricef23l does notfha'veitofrbe quiteas small as it-would otherwise butfinuany case, given any certain initial pressure-,thejpres `sure drop in 26 depends on the selectedsize'fof .prince-23.

That orice size is selected to drop the pressure in 26vto thepointwhere the force ofzdiaphragm 29 .will be'just sufcient'to holdmainL-valve t5 closed against the opening pressure on'lit yorj'if yspring I9 is used, to the point=vvhere the sum-lof the diaphragm and springforces "will be yjust @sufficient to keep valve I 5" fronrbeing "openedby 7'75thevalve openingforce.

the opening pressure on it. If the initial pressure at inlet I3 is a Well regulated one, orifice 23 can be accurately sized to bring the system to a condition where the excess of the force or forces holding valve I5 closed is very small.

..Aqfurthervery slight `drop in pressure in chamfber" I2 Qwill thencausei further' inward movement f diaphragm II. Withl lever 35 in contact with valve lever I6, the diaphragm then operates lever I`6 just as if it were directly connected with that bleverwoperating `main valve l5 in the usual manuner .Lto maintain the pressure in chamber I2. Due lto 4the fact that the excess force urging 1valve; f-.closed'is very small, the drop in pressure .infIZf necessaryztonopen the main valve initially, or to open it wider to keep up the regulated presssurejisflikewise:very small. Consequently, using ..a-,.\diaphragm of any given size with any given leverage ratio, the regulated pressure differential and pressure range necessary for operation is 'much-smaller than in the standard type of regu- "laton Or, to obtainoperation at the usual pres- 'sure diferentialand range, the diaphragm may besmaller, or the leveragev ratio, and diaphragm travel, smaller than in standard regulators. And in eithercase' the valve may be held much more tightly closed thanusual.

Parenthetically, it may be noted that in a regulator where the valve actuating'forces are ,quite small, the lweights of the several moving ,parts including `particularly the main diapluralism,V should Abe balanced. 'That can be done iniany suitable manner; and is usually done by mounting the regulator in a position wherethe diaphragmand the pivotsof the various levers :arein substantially vertical planes. With such an understanding the 'description here ignores theweights of' the. various parts.

nthefdescription.of operation, so far, ithas beenrassumedthatspring It is'absent or its force ksubstantially negligible. We now assume `thatspring I 9 is itself selected or adjusted to exert Iust suiiicient force .to hold valve I5 seated agalnstthe initial pressure on it. .Then the ef- 'fective sizeof diaphragmml, to give the same total valve closing force as before, can be smaller. For instance to give atotal valve closing force approximately .twice .the valve opening force, y`clia11hragm29 will be of a size, considering the `ratio o'flever'l6, to exert a closing force about equal' to "the `vopening force. 4It may be smaller or larger than that, depending on how tightly 'it is desired toclose the valve; but; with spring I9 exerting a closing force just slightly greater thantheopening force onthe valve, diaphragm "29.now'exerts'substantially only the excess closingforcathat closes` the valve tightly. IThen, in that arrangement, orice`23 ischosen of Ia size that, on opening auxiliary valve 35, the pressure in chamber 26 will be dropped to zero (atmosvpheric) or substantially so. 'With the .injector action' before described itis possible to drop the Dressurein. 26 to zero or even below. With-that pressure dropped. to substantially Zermthenmain valve I5 is only heldclose'd by the veryA small .excessipressure of vsp'ringIS after valve '351 has "been opened. `1t kmaybe here. remarked that,.as .thepressure'in chamber 26 can bedropped .to somethingv less than zero, spring' I9 may besoine- 4wl'iatstronger than just above. stated. "Then,.if 'pin 30 is attached to lever`I'6 (see e. g. pins 30h 'inFig 42) sothat the diaphragm. canvpull lever .I'Gdownfthe total valve closing force, With' valve "'351open., will then befonly slightly .greater than `ingno Valve closing force and exerting a force substantially capable of holding the valve closed,

Athe relation between the spring and diaphragm closing forces may be chosen as desired. For instance, spring I9 may be chosen to exert, say, a force equal to half of the. opening force on the valve. Diaphragm 29 will then be sized to exert the other half of that force plus an excess depending on the excess valve closing force desired. If that excess force is to equal the valve opening force, then the diaphragm will exert a closing force equal to three halves of the opening force. And orifice 23 will then be chosen to drop the pressure in chamber 26 to the point where, With Valve 35 open, the total spring and diaphragm closing forces will be just suliicient to hold valve I5 lightly closed.

lIn any of these cases the characteristic features of operation are the sal e as first described; the main valve is held tightly closed when the regulator is standing by forces which can be much larger than the forces required to operate i the regulator valve; or, put the other way around,

the differential forces required for regulative operation of the valve can be very small and the regulator still be closed tightly.

Fig. 2 illustrates a modification in which spring v38a (corresponding in function to spring 38 of Fig. 1) is seated on lever Ita. In that arrangement, when auxiliary valve lever 35 is moved to open valve 35 and to contact lever Ilia, spring 38a is pressing on Ilia against the force or forces which, with valve 35 open, are holding main valve I5 closed. So, in that particular arrangement, that closing force, whether of spring I9 or diaphragm 29 or both, will be made enough stronger to just hold valve l 5 closed until lever 35' exerts pressure directly on Ita. Fig. 2 also shows diaphragm pin 38a connected to lever ISa by the pins 38h so that diaphragm 29 can pull down as w'ell as press up on the lever. y

Fig. 3 shows a modification in which spring I9 of Figs. l and 2 is omitted (as before mentioned). It also shows another alternative, or additional, position for spring 38. A spring 38h is shown in the same arrangement as 38a in Fig. 2. Another spring 38e is also shown pressing on valve levei` 36 in a valve closing direction and based against a partition plate 5l! which covers diaphragm II to form a subsidiary diaphragm chamber |20.

restrictedly communicating with the outlet chamber I2. Functionally, spring 33e is the same as 33 of Fig. l; and 38o may be used either alone or in conjunction with 38h. The function of partition plate 5|), other than the subsidiary one of basing a spring like 38e, has nothing to do with the present invention. It forms a subsidiary chamber in which the pressure operating on diaphragm Il may be modied from that in the main or outlet chamber' I2, through the medium of such connections as shown generally at 5i. See, for instance, such patents as 2,073,299 and 2,248,222.

I t has been stated that the invention applies to regulators discharging at pressures above as well as below atmosphere. Fig. 4 illustrates application of the invention to a typical regulator stage, which may be either the single stage of a single stage regulator, or the first or second stage of a multiple stage regulator.

As there shown illustratively, most of the parts are the same as in Fig. 1 and are given the same numerals. 'Ihe main diaphragm Il, however, has a reference pressure applied to it, here shown 6 as the pressure of a spring BU pressing inwardly on the diaphragm. And the diaphragm is illustratively shown as connected to the auxiliary valve lever by a connection 36h which can pull on the lever to force auxiliary valve S5 closed. In an ordinary regulator, `of the type here lshown, set to discharge above atmospheric pressure, diaphragm II would be directly connected to the main valve lever IS to pull on that lever to close main valve i I5 as the diaphragm moves out against reference spring 60, with increasing pressure in chamber I2. M The valve I5 'then closes under an equilibrium of pressures: the initial pressure on the valve and the reference pressure of spring 60, both tending to open the valve, and the regulated fluid pressure on the inner face of the diaphragm tending to close the valve. For accurate pressure regulation, valve I5 should close tightly enough to prevent leakage when the pressure in I2 is only slightly above the desired regulated pressure; i. e. ideally the valve should close tightly under very little excess closing pressure. In practice, however, such valves must be closed under a considerable excess closing pressure, which pressure can only be generated by increase in pressure in I2 sufficient to close the valve tightly enough to stop leakage. That means that the range of the regulated pressure in I2 is relatively high, unless the valve actuating power is made large by using a large diaphragm Il, or a large leverage ratio with attendant large diaphragm travel. The invention overcomes that difficulty in this type of regulator in the same manner `as for a sub-atmospheric regulator.

As in the forms previously described spring I9 and/or auxiliary diaphragm 29 may be designed to hold valve I5 tightly closed with any chosen excess closing pressure `when auxiliary valve 35 is closed; and to hold valve I5 closed with a slight excess closing pressure `when valve 35 is open. Spring 38, normally hol-ding auxiliary valve 35 closed is not necessary in this form of regulator, as that valve can be closed by the connection 36h between lever 36a and diaphragm II being capable of pulling on lever 36h as well as pushing on it. On the other hand spring 38 can be used and the connection at 351D be a mere pushing connection, as it is in Fig. l. In either case, the change in pressure in I2 to movevalve 35 between its open and closed positions is very slight, due to the small size of valve 35,. And with valve 35 open a slight drop in the pressure in I2 then causes opening of valve I5 in the same manner as before described.

An advantage inherent in my invention in its various forms is that the final regulated outlet pressure is affected relatively little by variations in the initial pressure. This is true in all the variations discussed, but particularly so` where diaphragm 29 exerts most or all the closing pressure on main valve I5. The closing pressure exerted `by that diaphragm follows the varying openingY pressure closely; so that kthe pressure diierential which has to be supplied by the regulated pressure on diaphragm II remains quite constant.

Throughout the foregoing descriptions of operation, it has been assumed that, at the time lever 35 or 36u contacts lever I6 to move that lever to open valve I5, the auxiliary valve 35 has been raised high enough to be fully open or substantially so. Further lifting of valve 35 then has negligible effect in further lowering the pressure under diaphragm 29 so that the closing forces exerted' by spring I9 and/or diaphragm 29 are always at least slightly larger than the opening force on valve l5. However, by utilizing for closing spring I9 a spring of an appropriate spring rate, auxiliary valve 35 need not be wide open when 36 contacts i6 and begins to open valve l5. By Aproper choice of spring rate for I9, its increasing closing force can be made to offset the decrease in the closing force of diaphragm 29 as valve 35 opens more nearly to its wide open position.

Throughout this specification and the following claims the term diaphragm is used in the sense of any equivalent member movable by applied iiuid pressure.

' I claim:

1. In a fluid pressure regulator, a body and a main diaphragm enclosing a diaphragm chamber, an inlet and an outlet for the chamber, a main valve controlling the inlet, an auxiliary diaphragm forming with the body an auxiliary diaphragm chamber, connective means whereby the auxiliary diaphragm may exert force on the inlet controlling valve in a valve-closing direction, a pressure communication passage connecting the auxiliary chamber with the inlet at a point outside thevalve, a restriction in said communication passage, a pressure relief outlet communicating with the auxiliary chamber, an auxiliary valve controlling the pressure relief outlet, and connective means operative between the main diaphragm and the two valves whereby movement of said diaphragm inwardly into its chamber first opens the auxiliary valve and then opens the main valve.

2. A iiuid pressure regulator as dened in claim 1, and including means exerting a constant force on the inlet controlling valve in a valve-closing direction.

3. A uid pressure regulator as defined in claim 2, in which the inlet controlling valve closes in a direction against the fluid pressure at the inlet, and in which the means exerting a constant force on the inlet controlling valve is a spring exerting on the Valve a force not substantially greater than that necessary to hold said Valve closed.

4. In a fluid pressure regulator, a body and a main diaphragm enclosing a diaphragm chamber, an inletand an outlet for the chamber, a valve controlling the inlet, an auxiliary diaphragm forming with the body an auxiliary diaphragm chamber, a pressure communication passage connecting the auxiliary chamber with the inlet at a point outside the Valve, a restriction in said communication passage, a pressure relief outlet communication passage, a pressure relief outlet communicating with the auxiliary chamber, an auxiliary Valve controlling the pressure relief outlet, valve levers for the inlet controlling valve and the auxiliary valve, connective means between the main diaphragm and the auxiliary valve lever whereby inward movement of that diaphragm into its chamber moves that valve lever in a valve opening direction, connective means whereby the auxiliary diaphragm may exert a force on the inlet controlling valve lever in a valve closing direction, and operative connective means between the two valve levers operating to move the inlet controlling valve lever in a valve opening direction after the auxiliary valve has been opened.

5. A fluid pressure regulator as dened in claim 4, and in which the operative connective means between the two valve levers consists ina relative arrangement of said levers whereby the auxiliary valve lever contacts the inlet controlling valve lever after the auxiliary valve lever has been moved to open the auxiliary valve.

6. A nuid pressure regulator as defined in claim 4, and including means exerting a constant force on the inlet controlling valve lever in a valve closing direction.

'7. A iluid pressure regulator as defined in claim 6, and in which the inlet controlling valve closes in a direction against the fluid pressure at the inlet, and in which the means exerting a constant force on the inlet controlling valve lever is a spring exerting a force not substantially greater than that necessary to hold the valve closed.

8. In a i'luid pressure regulator, a body and a main diaphragm enclosing a diaphragm chamber, an inlet and an outlet for the chamber, a main valve controlling the inlet, an auxiliary ydiaphragm forming with the body an auxiliary diaphragm chamber, connective means whereby the auxiliary diaphragm may exert force on the inlet controlling valve in a valve-closing direction, valvularly controlled means applying a controlled variable fluid pressure from the inlet at a point outside its valve to the auxiliary diaphragm chamber, and connective means operative between the main diaphragm and the inlet controlling valve and said valvularly controlled means whereby movement of the main diaphragm inwardly into its chamber i'lrst operates said valvularly controlled means to reduce the fluid pressure in the auxiliary diaphragm chamber and then operates to open the main valve.

9. A fiuid pressure regulator as defined in claim 8, and including means exerting a constant force on the inlet controlling valve in a valve-closing direction.

10. A duid pressure regulator as defined in claim 9, in which the inlet controlling valve closes in a direction against the fluid pressure at the inlet, and in which the means'exerting a constant force on the inlet controlling valve is a spring exerting on the valve a force not substantially greater than that necessary to hold 4said valve closed.

HAROLD W. ENSIGN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 411,052 Rossney Sept. 17, 1889 439,586 Crawford Oct. 28, 1890 455,478 Threlkeld July 7, 1891 2,221,564 Arnold Nov. 12, 1940 

